Ashley Oosthuizen has spent more than five years in Thai prison.

She was arrested on the island of Koh Samui at the age of 21 after being forced to take the fall for the man she loved.

Tristan Nettles was a medical school student, business owner, and former high school science teacher at Panyadee International School on Koh Samui, Thailand, from 2017 through 2020.

Tristan freely admitted to using bitcoin and the dark web to import party drugs to Panyadee International School starting in 2017. More than a hundred packages were sent into the school before Ashley Oosthuizen ever lived in Thailand.

Party Drugs Being Ordered from NamasteLSD

Ashley's Arrest – October 8, 2020

On October 8th, 2020, a package arrived at Ashley's workplace, a restaurant owned by Tristan. During a busy shift, an undercover deliveryman made her sign for the package, even though he knew it was not addressed to her.

From police file: Ashley being confronted with the package and its MDMA contents

Within ten minutes, the Thai police arrived.

Ashley Oosthuizen during the police confrontation on October 8, 2020

Ashley's Coerced Confession

After her arrest, Ashley Oosthuizen was taken to an unmarked government black house for interrogation. No lawyer or interpreter were present. Ashley was then forced to sign documents written entirely in Thai under threat of rape or death.

This is tragically common in Thai police custody. Ashley was only 21 years old, with no prior police record. She was completely alone, surrounded by 15 men threatening her life if she refused.

Court-submitted document page 1: List of procedural injustices and coercion during interrogation

Court-submitted document page 2: Continued evidence of threats and lack of due process

Court-submitted document page 3: Further documentation of forced signing and intimidation

Ashley Oosthuizen inside Koh Samui Provincial Prison with her mother, Lynn.

Ashley has been incarcerated since October 8, 2020, in Thai Prison.

Reports of rape, torture, and murder in police custody on Thailand's Gulf are disturbingly common.

Recent Documented Cases of Abuse in the Region:

Tristan's Fight for Ashley

Since Ashley's arrest, Tristan resigned from medical school and taught himself how to code in order to bring Ashley's nightmare to the world.

He simultaneously wrote and completed an original novel dedicated to Ashley. 100% of author profits go directly towards supporting Ashley and her mother.

Published March 12, 2024, The Shepherd - A Bronze Age Tale was the opening salvo of a global campaign to Free Ashley. The main barrage arrives this year, 2026, with the publications of False Positive, Tristan and Ashley's unbelievable true story, and The King - A Bronze Age Tale.

Official cover of 'The Shepherd: A Bronze Age Tale' by Tristan Nettles – historical fiction dedicated to Ashley Oosthuizen

Click the cover to purchase on Amazon now and support Ashley!

The War in Ukraine

Once this website was live and The Shepherd novel was sent to be published in early 2022, Tristan took his fight for Ashley to new extremes.

Tristan left everything behind to volunteer with the Ukrainian International Legion to fight in the war against Russia in Ukraine. He believed that by risking his own life to defend other people's freedom, that others would help him in his fight for Ashley's.

Tristan Nettles standing with fellow International Legion volunteers before a mission in Ukraine

After sending over 2,000 emails, Tristan finally secured interest from a major publication. Following a brutal mission that claimed multiple lives, including the second American KIA in Ukraine, a reporter named Seth Harp from Rollingstone responded to Tristan's persistent messages about Ashley.

"It's too bad she's not American" — Seth Harp, Rollingstone

Read the Rollingstone Article

After seven months in-country running combat missions, and losing all but two of the original thirteen in his squad, Tristan left Ukraine.

Stephen 'Zeb' Zabielski's body after recovery outside the Russian-held village of Dorashanka, Ukraine

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Help Free Ashley by joining her fight today!

Pre-purchase Tristan and Ashley's unbelievable true story False Positive now!

False Positive is being published on October 20, 2026. Every copy sold gives Ashley more resources and publicity to win her freedom.

Pre-Order False Positive

Join the Fight to Free Ashley!

Ashley Oosthuizen is only 26 years old. Right now, as you read this, she remains in a Thai prison—miserable, isolated, and far from home. She has served over 5 years.

It is in no one's best interest for her to continue suffering in these wretched conditions. Help us bring her home.

Ashley Oosthuizen happy and free on a beach with friends – the life she deserves to reclaim

Join our growing movement right now as we fight to FREE ASHLEY OOSTHUIZEN from Thai prison!

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Continue supporting Ashley's fight through the books, YouTube, X, or direct donation. Every action brings her closer to freedom.